Page 34 of Run the Play
“Yeah, but so is he,” I mumble. The words taste sour as they cross my lips.
“We need a plan,” Reid says. “We can’t have that tool on our team. Not after what we know.”
“It’s too late, and Rowan is right. She lied when she went to the hospital. We have no proof,” I say, fighting the anger in my veins. He’s a coward and a bully beating up a woman. One who needed him when she had no one. He took advantage of her, and for that, he’s going to pay. I just don’t know how.
“So, we watch him,” Baker says. “Guys like him, they think they’re invincible, but he’ll screw up, and we’ll nail him.”
“I think that’s our best bet. We need to keep our mouths shut.”
“I’m not going to be buddy-buddy with him,” I spit the words. The thought of being nice to him disgusts me.
“You don’t have to be his best friend or invite him over, but you’ll need to be civil,” Knox reminds me.
“I fucking hate it. That’s not who we are.” Not us as a team or us as men. We don’t beat on women.
“I know, brother,” Knox says, his eyes telling me he understands that this is more than just a man beating up on his woman. I can’t explain it. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to find the words. What I can say is that I feel protective of her.
“It’ll all work out,” Baker says. “Look at me and my situation. We’ll make the best of it, keep our eyes and ears open, and we’ll get something on him. It might take us some time, but we’ll get there.”
“Yeah,” I agree. I just hope he’s right. I hate the thought of that man being anywhere near Rowan or my sister. Hell, any woman, for that matter. He’s a piece of shit, and there is no place for him here.
I’ll just have to do better. Keep an eye on her and, mostly, an eye on him. Because a tiger doesn’t change his stripes, and one day, his shit is going to catch up with him. They do say shit rolls downhill, right?
An hour later, our workout is done, and I swing by the therapy and training rooms looking for Rowan. I find her with her boss, the head trainer, John, and the rest of their team. She looks busy, so I leave her alone. At least I’ve set eyes on her and the fucker Brown is nowhere in sight.
“Damn, they went all out,” Baker says from his spot next to me.
“They did,” I agree as we take in the Rampage field that contains bounce houses, a face painting station, a guy makingballoon animals, a few carnival games, and food and ice cream vendors. “It’s a genius idea.”
“Agreed. It’s hard to believe next year, I’ll have a kid here with me.”
“How’s that going? Y’all still getting along?” I glance at him.
He shrugs. “It’s weird as fuck, but it’s been fine, I guess. She keeps me updated with her appointments, her cravings, and name ideas. She’s due at the end of training camp. It’s going to be a lot. Being a single dad to a newborn, but that’s my kid, you know?”
“Yeah,” I agree. “I’m here for whatever you need.”
“Thanks, man. Corie, Sloane, and Rowan have all offered to help me. I know I’ll need to hire help for the season, at the least, but leaving my new baby with strangers doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve never met this kid, but he or she is a part of me. It almost feels like a dream, and then I wake up to a text from Natasha telling me the baby kicked her all night long, and it’s like a slap in the face that it’s my reality.”
“I won’t try to pretend to understand what you’re going through. It’s fucked up for sure, but you’ve got this, Daddy Sinclair,” I say, grinning. “The ladies will help, and I’m sure they’d help vet a nanny for you as well, when you’re ready. In the meantime, let us help you. If you need a break, call one of us. We might not be great with babies, but damn, man, we can learn with you. That’s our niece or nephew, after all.”
“Thanks, Reynolds,” he says, his voice raspy with emotion.
“What’s good to eat?” I ask, trying to break up the heavy of the moment.
Baker laughs. “I don’t know, man, but I’m certain you’re about to find out.”
“You know it.” I clamp a hand on his shoulder before walking off toward the food. It smells fucking delicious, and you know I can always eat. However, before I can follow my nose to thesmell of what’s sure to be greatness for my belly, I see Rowan. I’d recognize that blonde hair and that ass anywhere.
It’s been far too long since I’ve seen her, so for once, my belly is going to have to wait. I detour and head toward her. I look past her to see who she’s talking to, and I see red. I quicken my pace, and when I reach her, I toss my arm over her shoulder and press a kiss to her temple. “Hey, baby.” I smile down at her. Her brow furrows just slightly, so I lean in and place my lips next to her ear. “Just roll with it.” She relaxes into me, putting her hand on my chest.
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” I ask Chaz fucking Brown, Rowan’s ex.
“You know me,” he grits.
“Do I?” I ask Rowan.
“Babe, this is Chaz. My ex and the new cornerback for the Rampage.” Her voice shakes slightly, but she’s going along with the plan.
